Let’s start by saying this: eating is a Good. Food is fuel for your brain and body, it’s yummy, and the act of eating gives you a nice break during the day. There are metabolic benefits to eating small meals very often, and your subordinates will appreciate the consistent mood that comes from frequent meals.
However, sometimes just finding the time to eat can be very difficult — just getting downstairs to the deli to grab something and go can be taxing, not to mention unrewarding after realizing you’ve paid $10 for a sandwich that wasn’t fresh or healthy and spent 30 minutes of your time between elevator rides and cashier’s lines.
That’s why we’ve been a big fan of bringing food to the office. If you’re trapped at your desk, it’s easier to rationalize a 5-minute break to eat the food you’ve already brought. It’s also easier to lock yourself into a healthy choice — the all-too-often thought of “well, I’ll just treat myself because I’m so busy” never ends well — and it’s ultimately better for the budget as well. (Pictured above: soup season, originally uploaded to Flickr by looseends.)
While there are some who have made an art form out of bringing a beautifully packed lunch, we can only aspire to be in that group for the moment. So we’ve come to specialize in what we’ll call the grab-and-go snack form of lunching. While none of them would normally be considered a meal, they take far less time to prepare or eat than a proper lunch, and if you eat 2 or 3 of them throughout the day you’re never hungry. So, without further ado, our list of food staples for the busy working girl:
- Yogurt — we strive for brands/lines that have no more than 100 calories per cup. If you can get a good deal, it sometimes pays to get the big containers (4 cups or so) of yogurt — bring it to the office and use a coffee cup to portion it out when you’re ready to eat it. We like mixing our yogurt with Fiber One — the cereal adds fiber, which boosts the feeling of fullness and helps you feel like you’re eating something substantive. It’s a great way to get your calcium in, also (but note that the calcium percentages vary widely among the brands, so check them out before you buy).
- Hard-boiled eggs. (Yes, this one’s cheating a bit — it requires a bit of prep work at home in order to make the hard-boiled eggs.) These suckers are great sources of lean protein — at least the whites are. The yolks do seem to make it seem more filling, though, and last time we checked we thought the fat in the yolks was a healthy fat. Still, for calories and cholesterol sake, we tend to eat one whole egg and two egg whites if we’re considering these a snack. Be sure to a) check your teeth before venturing into the world again, and b) get the remnants out of your office (even if it’s just to the office kitchen garbage) as soon as possible. We tend to bring only what we intend to eat to the office — i.e., take 3 hard-boiled eggs from the fridge, wrap them in a napkin, and stick in our purse before heading out in the morning.
- Sandwich fixings (particularly if the idea of assembling a sandwich in the morning stresses you out). Just grab about six slices of whatever low-cal bread you have on hand (or whatever’s easiest), and a packet of low-fat cheese to the office — voila, sandwiches for days. You can also bring a package of deli meat to the office — turkey or ham both tend to be low in fat — but be sure you’re not overdoing it on preservatives and sodium. (The other downside to deli meat is that it tends to get gross a day or two after you open it, which means you have to eat the same meal at least twice.) If you have reduced-fat peanut butter or almond butter sitting around, you can also add that to the bread — but watch your portions. Products like Better ‘n Peanut Butter or PB2 might be particularly worth looking into if you’re a little bit too much of a big fan of the peanut butter — they’re lower in calories. Canned tuna fish or salmon can be something else great — we try to collect low-fat mayonnaise packets when we see them (Panera is our usual source) and save them, but if in doubt we think both tuna and salmon taste good when mixed with mustard. Try to avoid eating tuna too often — the mercury content is bad for women (or perhaps people? chime in if you’re more up on this than we are) and, if buying canned salmon for the first time, be sure to read the label carefully — sometimes skin and/or bones are involved. These can be eaten in a coffee cup or on bread; either way, get the remnants out of your office as soon as possible. Sardines are something we’ve never tried to prepare ourselves, but we’ve read great things about them — if anyone has suggestions on eating sardines in a no-fuss way, do tell.
- String cheese or other easy-to-eat forms of low-calorie cheese. Mini Babybels, a Laughing Cow wedge, or, if you have time to pre-slice some 50- or 75-percent fat free Cabot’s cheese — they taste good, provide calcium and protein, and satiate.
- Oatmeal — This can be a great and filling snack, and feels more indulgent than the 130 calories or so that you usually consume with it. If you don’t have access to a microwave — try adding hot water (meant for tea) to the oatmeal; almost all brands, including plain quick-cooking oats, become oatmeal after a few minutes. (With plain oatmeal, try adding a sugar-free packet of hot cocoa to it, or some raisins and cinnamon.)
- Raw almonds. They’re a superfood! We prefer them raw because there’s no oil involved in a roasting process — and, c’mon, a raw almond is far less tasty than a wasabi-flavored roasted almond (or any of the delicious new flavors they’re selling). Count out 12 whole pieces or so and call it a snack.
- Vitatops. We just ordered these again for the first time in a long while, and they’re just as good as we remember — filling, tasty, and yes, only 100 calories. Sure, we could do a homemade version of them (we’ve taken a muffin mix and added powdered Fiber One to it and seem to recall it being similar) but sometimes it’s just easier to order them. Even though they have to be frozen (no preservatives), if you don’t have access to a microwave you can bring them to room temperature or behind by placing one on top of a cup of tea or coffee.
- Lattes. Even if you don’t have time to run to your local Starbucks, get some coffee from the office kitchen, and add skim milk until the coffee and milk are roughly 50/50. It’s a great liquid snack that boosts your energy, adds calcium to your diet, and wards off hunger.
- Soups. We had a lot of ladies write in to sing the praises of soups — we completely agree! (If you don’t have ready access to a microwave at your office, try bringing a thermos — some of them are the perfect size for soup.) (Including Thermos Nissan 16-Ounce Leak-Proof Food Jar
- Salads can be a bit messy and complex for us — after all, it assumes we’ve had time to go to the grocery store and select fresh greens and other ingredients, and to prepare them for inclusion — rinsing, chopping, etc. — but obviously they are great for diet and health reasons. Reader C e-mailed us, noting that she brought salads the entire year she clerked.
I just bought a clamshell of lettuce, a decent dressing, and a bag of pre-cooked shrimp. To make the lunch I tossed lettuce in a gladware container, then put some shrimp in a ziplock baggie with some marinade ingredients. I would do an Asian style with ground ginger, red pepper, soy sauce, and pepper, or scampi with lemon juice, olive oil, dried basil, and garlic. I either covered the lettuce in dressing or put it in a separate little container. Then at lunch just microwave the shrimp and toss them into the salad. It’s filling, cheap, and easy.
Perfect! Personally, when we have time to spare we tend to hit the local salad place and get the same thing: baby spinach, crumbled feta, tomatoes, and a few black olives, tossed with balsamic vinegar. Very low-calorie, high in antioxidants and calcium — when we want to add more protein we tend to add grilled shrimp.
- Prepared meals. We’re not big fans of the frozen meal — they’re filled with preservatives, and they’re not as filling as eating 2 or 3 of the snacks above. (Also, they require a trip to the microwave.) Still, for dietary restrictions they may be the easiest way to go: reader A wrote in to rave about the Gardein line for vegans, noting that each is less than 200 calories. A tip: if the prepared lunch is for you, you may want to try to boost the nutritional value of it by adding vegetables — most dinners are improved by adding a can of green beans or 1/2 a bag of frozen broccoli. (We’ll admit, though, we love Amy’s Tofu Vegetable Lasagna and most any Lean Pocket — but they’re a rare treat for lunch.)
All right, enough of our lunch choices — what do you eat when you have no time to eat?
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I eat between OR cases, so a variety of small snacks that can be consumed very quickly are a godsend. Some things that I love
-Trader Joes has amazing frozen Indian food (especially the Paneer Tikka Masala). This wouldn’t work if you have issues with smelly food, but most comments I get are about how good it smells
-Trader Joe’s frozen steel cut oats, with dried fruit and low fat milk. Yummy filling breakfast can get me through the morning OR case without a second thought.
-Mojo Bars from clif — salty sweet and a little more filling then some
- Greek Yogurt, especially the Fage with cherries or honey (not low fat but yummy, and filling)
- Dried fruit and nuts; mainly from Trader Joes because of the price/quality intersection
-Low fat kettle corn from Trader Joes. Comes in individual servings; great for an afternoon pick me up and doesn’t stink up the office of microwave popcorn
-I boil a package of frozen edamame on Sundays and leave them in the fridge, taking portions out each day. I’ll add salt, granulated garlic or other seasonings to pep them up.
-leftovers: my husband and I eat a lot out of Ellie Krieger’s cook books and leftovers from dinner are very yummy.
As you can see, a sucessful week of not eating crap for lunch for me is dependent on getting to Trader Joes on Sundays for a stock up.
I have to second the Trader Joe’s praises. It’s great for snacks, healthy foods, and even frozen meals that are better for you than the mass market versions. And it’s usually cheaper!
Only problem for me is that the line at the NY store is hours long (seriously) and I just do not have the time to go . . . pretty much ever.
[If the TJ folks are reading this, somehow, please open many more stores in NYC!!]
Not just NYC – Trader Joe’s lines are ridiculously long everywhere. I swear they could easily triple their market presence and still have full stores.
The NYC store on 14th sometimes has a line just to get into the store! Once you get in, another line starts right at the entrance and snakes through the whole store.
They have a store in Brooklyn that gets less crowded though, and they’re opening up two more stores-one near the Fairway on Broadway, and one in the East 20s. Hopefully that will help with lines!
I know about the BK store. There’s also one in Queens. But both would be totally out of my way & so any time saved not waiting on a line would be instantly lost. But so happy to hear they are opening up 2 more stores!!! Hopefully people will then disperse a bit & that will solve the problem of waiting on line just to get into a store and wait on another line! Thanks!
I don’t mind the low-cal/low-fat suggestions – like most folks here, I am chained to my desk most days and simply just cannot find the time to exercise as much as I’d like. I also tend to put on weight pretty easily. It’s not a matter of “guilt” for me, but rather a matter of trying to use my calories wisely and keep myself as healthy as possible.
That said, one of the best snacks I’ve found is Trader Joe’s raw unsalted mixed nuts. I’ll measure out a quarter cup into a zip-top bag in the morning and have the nuts over the course of the day. For me, the trick to making nuts into a satisfying snack is making sure they are raw and unsalted. Without the salt, I don’t end up overeating. In fact, cutting down on salt in general has helped a lot with improving my energy level and even some weight loss, so I would offer that as something else to consider when planning your at-work meals.
At least for me, the criticism of the list had nothing to do with low-cal, low-fat and everything to do with how UN-healthy it is to eat things that are artificially low-cal and low-fat (like all the low-fat mayo & low-fat cheese, and under 100 cal yogurt).
AIMS, good point! I have also been trying to incorporate more wholesome foods lately even if they’re higher in calories (like the nuts) because the low-cal stuff can have some pretty weird ingredients. But I know plenty of people who do just fine on the low-cal items … different strokes, I guess! :)
Ughh not again with the oatmeal. It looks like someone puked it up, it has a texture like the snot bits that come out of your nose when you have the worst cold ever, and it tastes like cardboard…
Wow, that’s deep. It’s just oatmeal! LOL.
It is just oatmeal. But I feel the same way. Been that way since grade school. More power to you if you like it, wish that I could say the same . . . but I’d sooner subsist on hard boiled eggs alone ;)
LOL. I LOVE oatmeal, but that was hilarious!
Liz, try putting craisins and brown sugar in it and/or play with the amount of water you put in it. I hated oatmeal for years but somewhere along the line I changed my mind and especially now that it’s freezing out, I love it as a midmorning snack.
Dried fruit is loaded with sugar (for those who care) but I find it’s a great “eat at your desk” snack and can be mixed with nuts or oatmeal to give that little something extra.
I think that instant oatmeal tends to give all oatmeal a bad name, the oats are dehydrated and never seem to fully cook. I make regular, old fashioned oatmeal with loads of cinnamon and some almonds about 3 times a week. Its really filling.
In the summer I tend to eat cottage cheese for lunch. It has a ton of protein and is also filling.
It sounds like a lot of you routinely bring lunch. I end up running to a salad bar or Au Bon Pain way more often than I like to admit.
i use steel-cut oatmeal because it is high in protein and i like the nutty texture. if im being fancy, i throw in some shredded coconut, walnuts, and banana slices. otherwise, it’s whatever fruit i have on hand -blueberry or raspberry usually.
love the idea of shredded coconut! I have an almost-full bag in my freezer that I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with. Brilliant!
Any suggestions for lunches that doesn’t need to be refrigerated? My law school only has microwaves and I’m a little tired of PBJ, instant oatmeal or soup.
Freezer Packs! My mom used to put them in with my packed lunches when I was in elementary school, and when I got to law school they suddenly became useful again. I would just stick my packed lunch in my locker with a freezer pack. Nothing ever got stolen or spoiled.
Also, things like frozen meals are fine if you let them thaw out during the day, and they actually heat up faster in the inevitable crappy low-wattage law school microwave.
A trick I use to keep my kids’ school lunches cold: put frozen yogurt tubes in their insulated lunch boxes. It keeps things cold, but it thaws by lunch time. (Our store has a generic brand that doesn’t have pictures of cartoon characters on them, which might be a little odd at the office!)
When I was in law school, it was risky to use the fridge (seriously, all kinds of foods would be stolen). As part of my lunch, I used to bring a tupperware container of yogurt mixed all kinds of frozen fruit – cherries were my favorite. By the time I was ready to eat it, the fruit had thawed and kept the yogurt cold. I also used to sprinkle uncooked oats on top. I found cereal got too soggy but I’m sure you could add it in when you’re ready to eat.
That sounds so yummy! I think I’m going to try that!
Here’s another vote for Hummus. (Costco has boxes with a ton of individual serving cups) And for the (full fat here!) greek yogurt. Sometimes, I’ll add sugar or fresh fruit if available and call it PinkBerry.
Also, I’ve been known to just eat the deli meat. It’s way easier to prep than a sandwich, faster to eat, and protein rich. I might add string cheese, or cheddar slices sometimes.
I’ll cook up a bunch of whole wheat pasta and then make tuna pesto pasta salad (tablespoon or so of premade pesto, 1/2 can of tuna, 1+ cup of pasta). It’s good hot or cold or room temperature and very filling. I seal the dirty tupperware back up and put it back in my Built NY bag and it isn’t too smelly.
I’ll also eat those tube packs of trailmix from Costco. Not a lo-cal option, but yummy, filling, easy to keep in your bag for emergencies, and quick to eat.
Has anyone tried any of the new “eat at the desk” meals that are marketed for this? I know there are healthy choice pasta/rice + something meals (Cafe Steamers), and another brand. Are they any better than a frozen dinner?
I don’t love the Cafe Steamers, they’re similar to a Lean Cuisine, etc., but I’ve not made them without getting SOMETHING on me wet when I pour in or out the water (could just be me …)
Does anyone have suggestions for glass containers with secure lids? I’ve been looking for glass containers to take homemade soup to work but haven’t found any with lids that are secure enough to consistently prevent leaking.
How about reusing a pasta sauce or salsa jar?
I find that the plastic containers from takeout Asian food are more secure than Tupperware or its competitors.
Just wrap it in a bag and keep it upright on your way to work .
Pyrex.
I bought these a few months ago and have never had a leak, even with soup: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11003822&sourceid=1500000000000003260370&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11003822
I second the Pyrex. I bring in lots of saucy dishes/stews and they never leak.
You want ones where there’s some kind of locking mechanism on the lid that snaps into place.
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisine-Rectangular-Locking-Storage-Containers/dp/B00295QVX4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1263327345&sr=1-3-fkmr0
I went through the same issue when trying to bring soups/saucy meals to work.
we got our glass containers + plastic locking lids pack at costco. they’re great, though note that the plastic lids aren’t microwave-save (they warp), so i just put a paper towel over whatever i’m heating.
Thanks for the suggestions! These are really great ideas.
Haven’t read the above but my go to meals are:
1. 2% cottage cheese and (X), cherry tomatoes/broccoli florets with a dash of salt & pepper, apple sauce, fresh fruit;
2. Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and some raw sunflower seeds;
3. Handful of brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans etc… I buy the big bags and then mix together in tupperware. I can grab a handful at home, or throw a handful into a baggie or smaller tupperware to go;
4. Small can of tuna – the flavored ones are pretty yummy;
5. Protein drink – Bolthouse Farms (have to be refrigerated-usually leave one in our work fridge) or… another from whole foods…but it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.
6. Kashi go lean cereal..
Now I am going to read others and see about getting some good ideas and other stuff to pair for an actual lunch!
I don’t really count calories but eat a version of low carb, in that I keep track of my protein intake. Plus protein is more filling.
I’ll second or third the crockpot! I’ll always take 2-3 servings out of the crockpot and put in individual servings and freeze. And the Trader Joe’s indian meals are yummy. also, I try to make a pot of quinoa or brown rice on Sunday, helps when putting together a lunch.
Is anyone else grossed out of the idea of rice and mayonnaise????
Oh yea, and edamame is great when you are in a snack-y mood!
I’ll second the cottage cheese – I prefer it over yogurt and it has less sugar/sugar substitute.
Also – precooked frozen edamame – TJ has a it reeeal cheap. Throw it in a ziploc, one crank of salt, shake and it thaws out by lunch. Super healthy and filling.
Tried those non-refrigerated health choice meals (pasta, rice, etc.) – pretty gross. I’d stick with those Annie Chung noodle bowls if you need a non-refrigerated option.
Also – I don’t eat a big lunch bc it makes me super tired and uncomfortable at my desk – not bc I’m watching calories.
I highly encourage those who are adverse to cooking to give it a try. I used to hate to cook because my none of my food ever came out well, but I love it now and I have saved SO much money and feel 200% healthier now. I make 2-3 dishes every Sunday and then eat those until about Wednesday, then cook again on Wednesday night. Yes, it takes time (maybe about 3 hours on Sunday) but it’s worth it.
I mostly cook Indian food (I highly recommend any cookbook by Madhur Jaffrey) such as lentils, rajma (kidney beans), aloo gobhi (potato cauliflower curry), etc. I use very little oil, amp up the spices, and am a happy woman during the work week. Both my husband and I have lost about 10 pounds each since we’ve stopped eating out for lunch.
I don’t have anything against the foods recommended in the article, but they all seem to be pretty dietetic, and unnecessarily so. It’s okay to have more than 150 calories at a time, and having a filling lunch (one that actually fills you, rather than leaving you hungry again an hour later) means you’ll be less likely to snack on vending machine fare later in the day.
i eat a banana with peanut butter for an easy, filling, no-mess snack. and if you’re not a banana lover (i’m not) the peanut butter mostly overwhelms the banana.
thanks for all of the tips, ladies.
As with most women who work (more than) fulltime, I’ve found it impossible to regularly make it to the gym. I do what I can but the only way to avoid blowing up is to monitor and limit cal intake. I don’t think anyone on here is suggesting that you only eat one of the 100-calorie items mentioned – but mix and match 4 or 5 of them and you have a decent lunch with measurable calorie intake and you won’t find that a busy month at work left you not only exhausted but 10 pounds heavier.
The VitaTop suggestion is right on point… seriously, so, so delicious. The Banana Fudge, Dark Choc Pomegranate, and Choc Mint are my faves right now- a hint is to buy them on Amazon, though, not the website- since a pack of them is usually over $25, you get free shipping on Amazon whereas you have to pay for shipping at the VitaTop website.
Raw almonds, and I usually stop by one of the fruit stands in the morning to grab a banana or apple for during the day. Also I usually keep hummus and olives around.
And yea, pretty much anything at Trader Joe’s, though I’ll agree the line at the Manhattan one is so, so long that I have to basically have to block out an entire weekend afternoon if I want to go.
http://www.reusablebags.com/ has some nice items for carrying and storing food. I use the Wrap-N-Mat instead of a plastic bag when I bring a sandwich for lunch and have found it works pretty well.
Don’t knock C for suggesting some low-cal/low-fat options, we can always substitute in higher-cal/higher-fat options of similar items if we want to!
In general, I love oatmeal, yogurt and bananas… all mushy foods that I am glad to see so many other lovely ladies also loving! So many people have an aversion to mushy foods that seems to be a holdover from childhood. (Anyone else remember being the only kid to like mushy foods and having all your friends grossed out by it? Well, that was me.)
For emergencies I keep a big thing of GNC protein shake mix at my desk. Just stir into a glass of water and have something healthy to either act as a lunch, or a snack to stave off hunger until you can get something else.
I am also one of those people that makes a couple big pots of food on Sunday and then eats out of it for the rest of the week. I’ll usually do one meal in the slowcooker and another in a pot or dutch oven. Right now, the farmers markets have a lot of root veggies, so I’ve also been roasting a couple trays of chopped carrots, sweet potatoes, and turnips and then taking those to work as well.
Total active cooking time for 2 meals and roasted veggies is about 1-2 hours — definitely worth it. Then I supplement those meals with things like:
- Trader Joe’s individually wrapped pieces of cheddar cheese
- Cashew ginger soup (Imagine brand – comes in a box handy for keeping in the fridge at work and then microwaving in a coffee cup for a quick snack)
- Trader Joe’s individually wrapped mini bags of trail mix
- the occasional frozen meal from Trader Joe’s or Ethnic Gourmet
- Green or red pepper strips
- Fruit
- Turkey or smoked salmon wraps with avocado, spinach, and tomato
I also like to make little crustless quiches in a muffin tin and then microwave them for breakfast. Put spinach, onion, garlic, sundried tomato, little bit of feta/goat cheese/ or cheddar, and egg in muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until it’s set.
Love the quiche idea! Thanks.
Ugh, diet bread? I’d sooner die. How about some healthful sprouted grain bread? It has more than 20 calories, but it also has fiber and other good things for you.
Also a bagel every once in a while never killed anyone.
I agree that one bagel never killed anyone, but some of us do have trouble eating things in moderation, and a little less disgust wouldn’t hurt…
If eating in moderation is the problem, the solution is eating things that are healthful (like fruits & veggies), not eating things that are synthetic (like diet bread) to excess. Studies consistently show that eating diet foods is only going to make you eat more per portion, and may even raise your appetite & contribute to excess weight overall (as is the case with diet soda, for instance).
I don’t think the original poster was exhibiting disgust with your choices, but rather commenting on the idea of putting something so fake in her body. I completely agree. And, given that the premise of this whole write up is that food is fuel, I think it’s entirely appropriate to point out that if fuel is what you’re after, diet bread is not going to give you that.
agree 100%
I will make huge batches of turkey or vegetable chili and soup (butternut squash and potato leek are my favorites), then freeze them in individual serving containers. Grab them out of the freezer on my way in, and since they are frozen, there is no risk of them leaking during the commute. They thaw on my desk when I get to work, so it’s just a quick hit in the microwave, and voila, lunch.
I also make giant pasta salads with some protein (beans, chicken, nuts, or cheese), fresh vegetables, and things like olives and artichoke hearts. I’ll mix up the combos of ingredients and the base (pasta, rice, couscous, orzo). I make it on Sundays and portion it out in individual containers. Something like that can last both me and my husband all week long. Same goes for a big batch of tabouli.
Stuffed grape leaves, hummus, pita, tzatziki, etc are all good quick lunch ideas…get them at prepared Whole Foods or TJs.
Finally, a box of cereal and a carton of soy milk in the office for emergencies.
It would be really, really nice if someday, I could read an article about healthy eating that didn’t have “low-cal” and “low-fat” in every suggestion. Guess what folks? Low calorie options are less filling, don’t taste as good, and are often full of chemicals. Most low fat foods have more sugar and artificial flavors. If your goal is to nourish your body, eat real food, not chemicals!
Hear, hear!!!
totally
Sometimes the goal isn’t just to nourish. It’s also to diet or prevent weight gain in whatever way works for you. A lot of people have success by saving calories here or there, on foods which they think taste just fine as low-cal, then spending their daily calories on other foods, that they prefer in a high-cal version. There isn’t just one way to eat.
Fine, but I think it’s unhealthy culturally to make diet foods the default. Dieters can presume that if yogurt is recommended, they can probably look for a low-fat version that serves the same purpose; similarly, they could just as easily derive low-calorie bread from regular bread. But to presume that everyone is looking for a diet version is to suggest to readers that they are abnormal if they don’t diet. I think that’s a bad lesson, and especially sad to see it being taught by “regular women” instead of, say, food manufacturers, clothing companies, pill packagers, or plastic surgeons.
Amen
Agreed. One of the saddest sentence I have ever read is the one about a Lean Pocket being a “rare treat for lunch.”
Seriously?
Well said.
But who made it the default? C asked her posters what THEY ate, when they didn’t have enough time for a whole meal. Just because the readers of this blog may prefer lower caloric intake and/or healthier food doesn’t make it a default. Perhaps in this narrow demographic, but we are hardly the norm… most people don’t work the kind of jobs where they don’t get time to eat, or feel pressured not to take that time, or pull all nighters working on projects etc…
At any rate, I like when someone designates a particular version … it suggests that there may be no taste/flavor issues. I like 2% cottage cheese…whole fat tastes too rich/thick, plus it has more protein.
I think part of the problem is with the word diet. Diet is the what you eat. Doesn’t have to be, but often is used for, a restrictive eating plan. but to be fair, what is really unhealthy culturally is the massive increase in obesity and obesity related health issues.
but to be fair, what is really unhealthy culturally is the massive increase in obesity and obesity related health issues.
That’s really minimizing of issues such as eating disorders which affect huge numbers of smart, professional women.
I’m not minimizing the issues of women with eating disorders. I personally think the idea of consuming 1200 cal per day for any significant period of time alarming and cause for concern. That said, I still believe obesity and obesity related issues to be far more prolific and wide-spread, and have more impact on us as individuals if for no other reason than the impact on health care/health insurance expense. Healthier versions of food don’t cause eating disorders, they are just, sometimes, tool for self abuse.
Definitely! Here’s a great link to the ‘world’s healthiest foods’… note, they are all whole foods – fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and grains.
http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
I keep a box of All-Bran crackers in my desk drawer for snacking. They are full of fiber and really filling. I usually get out just one serving’s worth so I don’t plow through the whole box. They come in the regular flavor (which is what I like) and a garlic and herb flavor. I know that All Bran crackers sound like cardboard, but they are delicious.
I have a whole grain bagel with cream cheese and coffee (with 1/2 and 1/2) most mornings when I get into work around 7:30-8:00. It keeps me full well past noon, at which point I snack on little things for the rest of the day. My favorites are apples, oranges, grapefruit sliced like oranges, grapes, raw almonds, Larabars (all natural, mostly raw ingredients), Babybel cheese and wheat crackers, and cut up carrots and celery. I keep a jar of Nutella in my desk and have a small spoonful when I’m craving something sweet – it keeps me away from the vending machines!
I typically do not bring lunch lunch. If I do, it’s usually a small portion of leftovers from the night before or some soup and then several small snacks – I tend to eat mindlessly through the afternoons, so I need to keep my portions smaller. Even if I have a huge sandwich for lunch, unfailingly I end up in my snack drawer or at the vending machine by 3:00!
Oh, and I should add that I wholeheartedly agree with those who have decried the low-fat, low-cal craze. Full-fat cheese is FAR more satisfying than any low-fat alternative!
I agree, I can’t eat low-fat cheese or low-fat ice cream. Low-fat ice cream (not frozen yogurt, that’s different) is so unsatisfying that it makes me crave real ice cream even more, and I would be happier having a smaller amount of full-fat Ben & Jerry’s!
I understand the ‘having no time to go to the gym’ thing since I work full time and am the mother to a toddler. But there are other ways of getting exercise. In my case, I don’t own a car (I live in the inner city of a large city – not NY). Anyway I take buses (with the stroller and heavy toddler) on weekends and walk pretty much everywhere including to and from work (half hour brisk walk each way). Works for me.
I understand that not everyone has self control re eating – actually i’m pretty bad myself and tend to demolish entire blocks of chocolate if they’re lying around. But I do think that eating unsatisfying, chemical laden lowfat foods and having that mentality of restricting calories can lead to a starve and then binge (or ‘blow out’ as someone said here in the comments) mentality. Why not just eat normal meals when you’re hungry? If your clothes start getting tight cut down a bit on the chocolate or wine or whatever but don’t go on a ‘diet’. Diets rarely work and just lead to misery IMO. Food is one of life’s pleasures – enjoy it! I just get rather annoyed (especially as the mother of a daughter) at the way women are often given the message that restricting food intake and striving to be thin or even underweight are the norm.
Amen.
Just to add to the above — you could also take the stairs more (whether at work, or wherever instead of standing on an elevator/escalator); walk more briskly, & move more generally, etc.
I find that not being sedentary is key. When I am feeling sluggish in the afternoon, the best energy boost for me has been to walk from one end of my floor to another (it’s a large floor) — I don’t know of any raw almonds that would revive me as much ;)
kat – LOL to the “heavy toddler!” My youngest is one, and weighs almost 30 pounds. Carrying him around has done wonders for my biceps!
For those who like yogurt but don’t like all of the chemicals in the ones from the grocery store, consider making fresh yogurt at home. My mother in law always makes it when she comes stays with us and it tastes way better (and very different) from what you would get in the store.
Just google yogurt recipes and you’ll find a bunch — all it takes is boiling milk and adding a bit of yogurt culture, letting it cool overnight, and voila — creamy fresh yogurt the next day!
I haven’t read all the other comments, so apologies if this a repeat! However – I am a huge fan of the Amy’s Kitchen line of pre-packaged foods. Everything is organic and they offer all different products for different dietary needs. I can’t eat dairy, and they have loads of non-dairy products, as well as vegetarian, vegan, soy-free, nut-free, G-free, and the list goes on.
In my area – the midwest, I can easily find Amy’s Kitchen products at regular grocery stores & Super Targets, which is nice not having to go the local natural store for these lunch-time staples!
What an excellent list of suggestions! I always carry a bar in my purse because in my profession, the client comes first and I don’t always have time for real meals. Thanks for expanding my horizons!
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I see the importance of eating healthy food. It’s important because it gives us the energy we need to do the things we ought to accomplish especially in our every day life. Bringing a packed lunch with you is a great idea. There are many kinds of food stacking container online. But you might love more the design of a stainless steel container at Happy Tiffin. Because the steel tiffins there are all eco-friendly, stylish, hip, safe to use, are made of high quality steel food grades and also very handy. I mean its not difficult to carry it around with you because its portable and spill-proof. So the idea of packed lunch would be good for you.
My favorite quick lunch (or dinner) is brown rice with barley, rye berries, or wheat berries. I just stick it all in my rice cooker with water, a bit of Smart Balance margarine, and a dash of salt. It’s delicious, high in protein and fiber, cheap, and really easy. It does take about 40 minutes to cook, but you don’t have to do anything with it during that time. It also reheats well, and if you don’t have access to a microwave, it should stay warm in a thermos.
The YoBaby full-fat yogurt cups are really tasty and a decent amount of calories. I don’t like the apple or banana flavors, but my toddler does. I think you can also get plain cups at some stores.
Come to the Society.
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